Eric Johnson's clean guitar tone

I need some help with this. It feels like I just searched the entire internet and I counldnt find anything on his effects or settings.

Earlier I tried getting the 'Eric Johnson' clean tone with my effects processor without much luck. Before I tried again I figured I'd do some research and again didnt have any luck.

I know without his exact equipment I can't get his tone, but I should be able to get somethign simalar right?

I've been trying to listen real closely and before I go back and try again I thought I'd post here.

Slight Chorus, compression, reverb, echo/delay.. am i missing anything.. have i added somethign that shouldnt be there?

I can't remember who it was but i downloaded a decent cover of manhatten on here. The guy had the tone spot on, I m hoping he sees this.

Thanks guys

[TheElectromagnet]

If there is 0ne thing I have learned over the years it is this: ERic johnson could come to my house and play on my 2X12 ultimate chorus amp and it would sound like Eric Johnson. 95% of his tone comes from his fingers, the way he frets, the part of his finger he uses, the shape of his fingers. I have been asking your same question! Just in case you want to know though:

2 Fender Twin Reverb Amps

T.C. Electronic Stereo Chorus

Echoplex tape echo

Set the bass all the way up on the twin, the treble about 2/3, and the mid about half way. Set the volume to 5. It is also important to note that ALL of his equipment is very old. He uses absolutely no modern equipment other than the t.c. electronic stereo chorus. I have all of this equipment and have a close tone but you still just can't get that sweet tone that he gets. Its all in the hands!

[CanyonCarver]

Maybe Eric has a good setting on his POD XT. The rest is in the fingers of course...

[ericgtr]

The POD has a couple of settings on it for this. Ibanezplayer, what sort of effects processor are you using?

[img]images/smilies/icon_nono.gif[/img]

If I told you that, I would have to kill you.

What the heck, keep in mind this is only for bedroom jamming, not gigging or anything. I use a Zoom gfx707 for effects. It's crappy but it's better then no effects at all I suppose. As I said I don't use it for jamming with my band, I have just a couple boss pedals for that.

After alot of tweaking I've gotten similar tones for Dream Theater tones, Satch, Vai, Malmsteen and Becker..VH, Pantera even..

I guess you guys are right the tone mainly comes from his hands. I'd just like to be able to get something sounding close. This is the first time I've tried getting a clean lead tone though. So excuse my noobiness.

Thanks for the help so far guys.

I uploaded a very small file, as a sample of what I came up with.

I only learnt this about an hour ago, the playing is pretty bad but hopefully it'll give you a fair idea.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[TheElectromagnet]

That tone isn't too bad. His sound is a bit more pure however. I will upload a file soon of my take on this song with my twin reverb and see how it sounds. I will try to have it up in a couple days.

cool I look foward to it, thanks for the feedback.

[popester]

I've been working on how God formed the earth. I think I'll get there faster than chancing upon Johnson's complete tone. It always amazed me how clean each note comes out and I have come to the conclusion that at least 90% of it comes from pure technique. (The benefits of his piano background)Those of us with slower hand speed and knuckles that don't spread five frets haven't got chance of replicating him but technology can put you in the ballpark.
The closest I have come without an Eric Johnson Strat in my collection is with my Warmouth/Duncan equipped Pacifica through a POD to a Peavey Classic 50. Without an echoplex I can only get close with the POD on Modern Higain, effects set to Delay/Chorus. Output at 3, drive at 10, bass 10, mid 5, treble 8 and reverb to 4. Then tweak.
Hey guys we all come out sounding like Homer Simpson after our efforts. Doh! But it's still fun chasing this guys incredible sound.

[Wolfman]

Eric's website actually has some diagrams of his set-up. I'll post a link here for you in a little bit.

.

[El_jalepeno]

If you watch Eric play, you will see that he also uses the volume and tone controls in many different combinations as he plays a song... Thank God he plays a strat and not a Kramer, or he would really be screwed!

[Mike M]

...just had a listen to some of this guy's work: his "touch" reminds me a little of Rory Gallagher, so, as you say, his sound is going to have a lot to do with his fingers and the way he plays etc.

[Spare-Flair]

This is how

[Unity]

i also read he like sands all the paint off his guitars or somethin cause it gives it a different sound, im not too sure, but that could be somethin too

[hollis122]

It's not hard to get EJ's clean tone . Getting the violin tone was a problem until now . There's an easy way to get it without buying over $ 5000.00 in equipment .